P.C. Home Studio Help

Sparkfire · 09-10-2010, 11:13 AM

I want to set up my computer to record on it. I am asking for help from you guys because I know so many of you have "been there done that" and will help me avoid the "stupid tax". lol One of our members uses a ME=25 usb interface. I don't know what else, but I hope he posts on here. He made a good demo with it. Anyway, I want something that I can put down a basic background (loop) and then practice and record my leads on top of it. Voice over would be nice also, if I can find someone that can sing. lol Something not very expensive, but not obsolete used either. Just point me in the right direction please. Thanks.......Ron

inliner · 09-10-2010, 12:07 PM

So many options out there...

One question is if you really want to stick to a computer?

If you just need a practicing tool you can get a looper, something like BOSS RC-20XL which has both line and mic inputs. I used to have one before I got ME-25. It's kind of getting outdated but still works great as a practicing tool. It's something like $200-250 on ebay. You can record, overdub, undo the last rec etc. For something newer there's Digitech JamMan and other loopers.

BOSS ME-25 has very basic looper. Rec time is only 38sec, you cannot undo, you cannot pause. I think they did it because they want people to buy their original loopers

What's good in ME-25 is that you can connect it to a computer and record/play without delays because it has native ASIO support. It comes with Sonar recording software so you can start recording right out of the box. And also it's not too expensive, I got one on ebay (new) for $170. There's no mic input but maybe you can try and plug it into line... haven't tried yet.

If you don't need all the ME-25 fancy sounds you can just buy a single USB interface. Something like Behringer Guitar Link You can get it for like $40 I think. It comes with recording/modelling software.
So if you're sticking to a computer and don't want to spend a lot of money that's a good option for you.

Again, there are so many other options, but I just talk about what I know/tried. Let's see what others say.

Sparkfire · 09-10-2010, 12:24 PM

Thanks Inliner. I'm going to go look up some of this stuff and see where it leads me.

Papa Joe · 09-10-2010, 01:15 PM

This might be more than you're looking for but it's still very basic.I plug in to a cheap Behringer mixer [$79] Then into my sound card and use Cakewalk Sonar recording software.Cakewalk has software under $100 for basic..The screen on the left shows Cakewalk..On the right is BIAB that I use for making backing tracks..

inliner · 09-10-2010, 01:36 PM

Papa Joe
What sound card do you have?

Sparkfire · 09-10-2010, 01:43 PM

Hummm. That looks good Papa Joe. I'm looking at the Behringer stuff on their sight right now. The guitar interface they have has its own free software but it doesn't look as good as yours does. I see you also have a nice mixing board there too. The guitar interface only has one input so there is no mic in on it. Thanks for the help.

Sparkfire · 09-10-2010, 01:46 PM

I'm not sure what kind of sound card it is, but I do know it is one of the upgraded gaming cards. This used to be a friends computer who was really into high speed gaming.

Sparkfire · 09-10-2010, 01:47 PM

Sorry Inliner, thought you were talking to me. lol

Papa Joe · 09-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Sparkfire,That mixer is a Behringer 4 channel that acts as the interface.It has low Z and high Z inputs with EQ. You can plug guitars or mic's in... Out put options are main,control room and headphone .Tape recorder in and out.It's all you need for an interface. Under $100..
inliner,I'm using a Delta 44 card for recording because it has 4 ins and 4 outs.For playback I use a Soundblaster Live run into my home stereo.
The SB would work just fine if I didn't want more ins..
BTW,I disabled my onboard sound card to avoid conflicts but it could be used I guess..

Papa Joe · 09-10-2010, 02:41 PM

Sparkfire,check out this option for making your own backing tracks..I use this and really like it..

http://www.pgmusic.com/index.html

YeahDoIt · 09-11-2010, 06:54 AM

I use Audacity, it's free and works well on my computer.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

For jamming I can record a track, select the track, hold the shift button while I click "play" and it keeps repeating the track.

I can record something, copy it and repeat it maybe 20 times. Then record a second track on top of the original. Then mix it down to an mp3.

YeahDoIt · 09-11-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Joe

Sparkfire,check out this option for making your own backing tracks..I use this and really like it..

http://www.pgmusic.com/index.html

I know a band that uses Band In A Box software for live shows. They sound great and avoid personnel problems such as musicians not showing up for gigs.

tjnugent · 09-11-2010, 07:10 AM

Sparkfire... In the email I sent I mentioned Reaper as a multi-track recording software. Reaper is a full bore DAW application that lets you do at least 64 tracks and people use it professionally. The license basically if you use it for home use and don't make money using the software, you can use it free. The fee's go up if you are running a commercial business with it, but for just about everyone I know who records at home, Reaper is a great free application and rivals the home version of Pro Tools, Sonar, and other DAW apps. Check it out.

http://www.reaper.fm/

The sound card I have for sale is the M-Audio Fastrack Pro, which is usb into your computer. It has two guitar type inputs and 2 xlr mic inputs and works really well. Here is a link to it at Guitar Center with reviews.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-...85-i1126084.gc

I would let it go cheap... Under $100 bucks... if you or anyone else is interested..

TJ

Sparkfire · 09-11-2010, 10:48 PM

Thanks guys for all the help. I knew all this was available for computer but really needed the input. Thanks again........Ron

Sparkfire · 09-11-2010, 11:17 PM

Thanks TJ. I am looking over all this software. My son is a computer wiz in his last year at mtsu and he is going to set me up a bunch of software stuff once I show him what it is i'm trying to do. This was going to be just a simple thing and now its like moding a strat. All this is great though. I see I can get all the effects for free or near free, which should make for some extra fun just trying out the effects.

tjnugent · 09-11-2010, 11:29 PM

Sparkfire.. I went to MTSU.. I live over in Oak Ridge, near Knoxville. There are a lot of free VST plugins for computer and I have a bunch of guitar software as well. Some may have to make it over your way... cough cough... if you know what I mean.. I have all the amplitude stuff and others... Guitar Rig 3... I think.. There are tons of effects called VST Plugins that are free free free... all over the web.. I have the entire Waves Library for PC as well. lol

Computer recording isn't very easy, but in time you learn to master the applications and you might surprise yourself on just what you can do with it..

TJ

Sparkfire · 09-11-2010, 11:46 PM

Is the GAS traveling towards you or towards me TJ? lol I'm about 40 miles from Cookville, 60 to Nashville. Macon county.

tjnugent · 09-11-2010, 11:55 PM

I think there has been a natural GAS explosion in Tennessee... I got it bad right now.. I am stinkin the place up... I am recovering from a bad car accident in Feb of this year and so I have too much time on my hands... That is why I have been posting a bunch... and dreaming of guitars.. Now, if only had some money to actually buy a few... hmmm when I go back to work is when that will happen.. You can only keep a guitar player with GAS down so long before he must purchase or die..

Sparkfire · 09-12-2010, 12:19 AM

Sorry to hear about the bad car wreck. Hope you are soon posting about all those new guitars,and the lack of enough time to play them! I've been driving my wife crazy with my GASing. I guess I am what you could consider unwillingly retired. My doctor said no more work. He doesn't know my wife.